Alpha-halogenated aromatic compounds as photoinitiators

Abstract

 @ Halodiphenylmethane compounds, for example, alpha- halogenated aromatic compounds of the formula

where X is selected from the group consisting of halogen and hydrogen with at least one X being halogen, preferably chlorine and R is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy and halogen, have been found to be photoinitiators for use in the photopolymerization of monomeric and polymeric compositions of photopolymerizable substances.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to processes and compositions for photopolymerization using alpha- halogenated aromatic compounds as photoinitiators.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Photopolymerization of unsaturated compositions in which a photoinitiating compound is included in the polymerizable mass is well known in the art. The process has many advantages over thermal polymerization and is particularly useful where long shelf life combined with rapid hardening at low temperature is desirable. Photoinitiating compounds must absorb light and utilize the energy so acquired to initiate polymerization.

[0003] A large number of compounds have been found useful as photoinitiators for the polymerization of unsaturated compounds. Among those heretofore in most common usage in industry are the benzoin ethers of primary and secondary alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and isobutyl alcohol. Also, compounds such as phenyl glyoxal and 1-phenyl butane-l,2-dione are disclosed'as photosensitizers in U.S. Patent No. 2,413,973. Additionally, various acetophenone compounds such.as 2,2-diethoxyacetophenone are claimed to have photoinitiating capability in U.S. Patent No. 3,715,293. Various aromatic keto compounds have been described in the literature as useful as photoinitiators (see Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 11 974-978 (1972), for example).

Summary of the Present Invention

[0004] Halodiphenylmethane compounds have been found to be effective photoinitiators in accordance with the present invention. Such compounds have at least one halo atom on the methylene carbon atom that lies between the unsubstituted and/or substituted (e.g., alkyl, alkoxy, halo, etc.) phenyl rings. Compounds of this type preferably have the formula

where X can be halogen or hydrogen and R can be one of the aforementioned substituents, with the proviso that one X is halogen.

Detailed Description of the Present Invention

[0005] The compositions curable by actinic radiation according to the invention can contain a photopolymerizable polymer in a reactive ethylenically unsaturated monomeric medium, a reactive polymer alone, a reactive monomer alone, or any of these combined with an inert solvent. Additionally, the polymerizable composition can contain any of the pigments commonly used in photopolymerization techniques.

[0006] The process can be carried out by mixing a quantity of photoinitiating compound of the present invention with a photopolymerizable composition and exposing the resultant mixture to actinic radiation. Alternatively, a one-component system comprising the photopolymerizable composition, the photoinitiator of the invention and, if desired, pigmentation, can be formed.

[0007] The photoinitiating compounds of the invention are suitable in the actinic light curing of unsaturated monomeric compounds either alone or as copolymerizable constituents of unsaturated polymer/monomer systems. Such systems are composed of mixtures of conventional unsaturated polymers and unsaturated monomers.

[0008] Monomers which are useful in practicing the invention are acrylic, &C-alkacrylic and α-chloroacrylic acid compounds such as esters, amides and nitriles. Examples of such compounds are acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methacrylamide and methyl c(-chloroacrylate. Also useful, although not preferred due to their slower rates of reactivity, are vinyl and vinylidene esters, ethers and ketones. Additionally, compounds having more than one terminal unsaturation can be used. Examples of these include diallyl phthalate, diallyl maleate, diallyl fumarate, triallyl cyanurate, triallyl phosphate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, glycerol trimethacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, methacrylic anhydride, and allyl ethers of monohydroxy or polyhydroxy compounds such as ethylene glycol diallyl ether, pentaerythritol tetraallyl ether, and the like. Nonterminally unsaturated compounds such as diethyl fumarate can similarly be used.

[0009] The acrylic acid derivatives are particularly well suited to the practice of the invention and are consequently preferred components as monomers in monomer-containing polymerizable systems and as reactive centers in polymerizable polymers.

[0010] A preferred manner of practicing the invention is by the use of photopolymerizable molding and coating compositions which comprise mixtures of unsaturated polymeric compounds and monomeric compounds copolymerizable therewith. The polymeric compounds can be conventional polyesters prepared from unsaturated polycarboxylic acids such as maleic acid, fumaric acid, glutaconic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid and the like, and polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, glycerol, propylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane and the like. The carboxylic acid content can also contain saturated components. The inclusion of a monobasic fatty acid content, either as such or in the form of a triglyceride or oil, in the photopolymerizable polyester composition to comprise an alkyd resin is also acceptable, These resins can, in turn, be modified by silicones, epoxides, isocyanates, etc., by known techniques.

[0011] Additionally, the photopolymerizable composition can contain a sensitizer capable of enhancing the photoinitiating reactivity of the photoinitiating compound of tho invention. Examples of sensitizers useful in the practice of the invention are such compounds as xanthone, thioxanthone, acetophenone and the like. These are typically added in amounts ranging from about 0.1 to about 6 weight percent. The techniques whereby such sensitizers are selected for use in conjunction with particular photoinitiators are well known in the art. See for example, Murov, Handbook of Photochemistry, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York (1973).

[0012] Thus it is seen that the constitution of photopolymerizable compositions which can be used in the practice of the invention is widely variable. However, the compounds enumerated above are purely illustrative. Materials subject to polymerization by actinic radiation as well as permissible variations and substitutions of equivalent components within particular types of compositions are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0013] The compounds which function as photoinitiators in accordance with the present invention are known for other uses and are easily synthesized by known means. The photoinitiators of the invention can be utilized in amounts ranging from 0.01 to about 30% by weight based on the photopolymerizable composition. However, preferable amounts of the compounds are from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent with optimal results being achieved with amounts in the range of from about 1.0 to about 16 weight percent.

[0014] An acceptable source of actinic light radiation is any apparatus which emits light radiation in the approximate region of from about 2000 Angstroms to about 8000 Angstroms and preferably from about 2400 Angstroms to about 5400 Angstroms. One such apparatus is PPG Model QC 1202, a UV processor manufactured by PPG Industries, Inc.

[0015] The present invention is illustrated by the Example which follows.

TEST PROCEDURE USED IN THE EXAMPLE

[0016] The induced rate of photopolymerization of a standard test solution of acrylate/alkyd resin was measured for the compound which was tested. This standard test solution consisted of 42%, by weight, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), 17%, by weight, of ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), and 41%, by weight, of an unsaturated long chain linseed oil alkyd resin (ACTOMER X-80 resin from Union Carbide).

[0017] The test solution was exposed to light radiation from a light source (PPG Model QC 1202) which contained two high intensity, medium pressure quartz mercury lamps, 12 inches in length, with each operating at a linear power density of about 200 watts per inch or 2400 watts per lamp. The lamps were housed in an elliptical reflector above a variable speed conveyor belt so that each lamp provided a 2-inch band of high flux actinic radiation on the conveyor. This 2-inch exposure area was bordered on both sides by an additional 2-inch area of medium flux energy for a total radiation area of 6 inches for each lamp. In the curing data presented herein, the cure rate of the polymerizable compositions is presented in feet-per-minute-per-lamp (ft./min./lamp). Thus, a conveyor belt speed of one foot/min. will, with a 12-inch exposure area for the two lamps, provide 60 seconds of exposure or a cure rate of 0.5 ft./min./lamp. Similarly, a belt speed of 10 ft./min. will provide 6 seconds of exposure or a rate of 5.0 ft./min./lamp, while a speed of 20.0 ft./min. will give 3 seconds exposure or a rate of 10 ft./min./lamp.

[0018] The extent of curing was determined by a standard pencil hardness test with all samples coated on aluminum plate to a thickness of 2 mils and polymerized to achieve a standard pencil hardness of from 4H to 6H where this was attainable.

EXAMPLE

[0019] Dichlorodiphenylmethane was tested in the foregoing standard test solution as a photoinitiator at a 4 wt. % loading and exhibited a cure rate of 8 ft./min./lamp.

[0020] The foregoing Example is set forth for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of protection that is sought is given in the claims which follow.

Claims

1. In the photopolymerization of monomeric and polymeric compositions of photopolymerizable substances wherein a photoinitiator is admixed with a photopolymerizable composition and the mixture exposed to actinic radiation, the improvement wherein photopolymerization is effectively initiated by a halodiphenylmethane photoinitiator.

2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the halodiphenylmethane photoinitiator is a compound of the formula:

where X is selected from the group consisting of halogen and hydrogen with at least one X being halogen and R is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy and halogen.

3. The method of Claim 2 wherein at least one X is chlorine.

4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the photoinitiating compound is dichlorodiphenylmethane.

5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 0.5 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight.

6. The method of Claim 1 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 1.0 percent by weight to about 16 percent by weight.

7. The method of Claim 3 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 0.5 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight.

8. The method of Claim 3 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 1.0 percent by weight to about 16 percent by weight.

9. The method of Claim 4 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 0.5 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight.

10. The method of Claim 4 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 1.0 percent by weight to about 16 percent by weight.

11. A composition photopolymerizable by actinic radiation comprising unsaturated polymerizable constituents containing dispersed therein an effective amount of a halodiphenylmethane photoinitiator.

12. The composition of Claim 11 wherein the halodiphenylmethane compound has the formula:

where X is selected from the group consisting of halogen and hydrogen with at least one X being halogen and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy and halogen.

13. The composition of Claim 12 where at least one X is chlorine.

14. The composition of Claim 11 wherein the photoinitiating compound is dichlorodiphenylmethane.

15. The composition of Claim 11 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 0.5 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight.

16. The composition of Claim 11 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 1.0 percent by weight to about 16 percent by weight.

17. The composition of Claim 12 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 0.5 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight.

18. The composition of Claim 12 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 1.0 percent by weight to about 16 percent by weight.

19. The composition of Claim 13 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 0.5 percent by weight to about 20 percent by weight.

20. The composition of Claim 14 wherein the photoinitiating compound is present at a concentration of about 1.0 percent by weight to about 16 percent by weight.